welcome welcome home: Inside ARC - 7.23.14 - Pakistan Crisis, New Clinic, Celebrations

Hi jay,

I've included a few updates from ARC program sites around the world. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about these items or anything else.

-Daniel

Daniel Wordsworth, President

P.S. Will you do me a favor? Reply to this email with a short message and let me know if these updates are valuable to you. You can also let me know what you like. Or if there is other information you'd like to see.

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*Pakistan IDP Crisis*

Insecurity in Pakistan's North Waziristan region has forced nearly 1 million people to flee their homes. Most have traveled east to other areas of Pakistan to escape the violence. People who have been displaced say they aren't receiving enough assistance in the form of basic services like food, water and shelter. ARC is working closely with partner organizations present on the ground and have shipped food packages, medicine, and hygiene kits to District Bannu which houses more than 60% of the IDP population. ARC is also ready to provide medical assistance to children and mothers as soon as it is permitted to enter the area. Stay tuned for updates on the crisis and ARC's response.

*First Asili Clinic*

Last week we opened our first Asili social enterprise clinic in rural DRC where families pay market rates in order to receive health care services and medicines. Asili is a pilot providing a lifesaving menu of primary care services at rates that even families with very limited resources can afford. In addition to health care, families can also access safe, clean water daily through Asili, and local farmers can get help improving their yields and selling their crops at market. Because Asili services are streamlined, costs stay very low. But we’re also training our staff to provide service at a level that would delight and astonish any customer. After initial infrastructure investments, Asili is designed to sustain itself on payments from customers alone – and won’t rely on US government or UN aid budgets to survive.

After being open just one week, the response from customers is very positive. Clinic and medicine fees are being paid, and people are coming from around the region to receive services at the Asili clinic. On Saturday, one woman came a great distance to visit the clinic and she asked when we’ll be opening Asili near her home. We’re refining the model and ensuring Asili runs smoothly in this first service zone, and then we’ll look to expand past the pilot phase later in 2014 and 2015. Each Asili zone is expected to begin making a profit within three years.

*World Refugee Day in Uganda*

Last month, ARC hosted two World Refugee Day(WRD) celebrations at Kyangwali and Nakivale refugee settlements in Uganda. The celebration at Kyangwali was Uganda’s official country-wide observance of World Refugee Day. Uganda’s treatment of refugees is unique in the world. Nearly a quarter of a million refugees reside in Uganda, and on arrival many of these people receive their own plot of land where they can build a home and grow crops. They enjoy a freedom of movement that is not true for refugees sheltering in most other countries. Several of Uganda’s ministers and other government officials were in attendance at Kyangwali to voice their support for refugee communities throughout Uganda.

The WRD celebration at Nakivale settlement was a more relaxed community affair. Refugees representing several nationalities paraded through the settlement. Youth choirs sang songs, Burundian drummers thumped away, dance groups boogied down, and Somali drama teams performed theatrical skits. There were speeches from community leaders, and then a large picnic of chicken and rice for all who were assembled. [Below: A photo of the parade at Nakivale settlement].

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